Legislative protest brings 17 arrests at N.C. Statehouse

Seventeen protestors, including N.C. NAACP’s president, William Barber, were arrested this evening just before the N.C. Senate’s 7 p.m. session convened. The protestors were shouting “We fight” in an act of civil disobedience that Barber said was aimed at a legislative agenda that is “hurting poor and minorities.” Barber, in an interview on national television Sunday, had intimated that some protest was planned today as he described his organization’s approach as “two-pronged,” involving legal and grassroots action. Barber appeared by satellite on the “UP with Steve Kornacki” news show on MSNBC. Four other guests were interviewed in the studio about pending N.C. legislation, specifically including bills that affect voting rights. The four were former Democratic N.C. Senator Linda Garrou; Progress N.C.’s director, Gerrick Brenner; Advancement Project co-director Penda Hair; and the director of Color of Change, Rashad Robinson. (The interviews are available at www.nbcnews.com/id/46979738/#51692720.)